Method of making a coiled metallic strand



Jan. 4, 1938. J. w. GOTTSCHALK ET AL 2,104,713

METHOD OF MAKING A COILED METALLIC STRAND Filed Sept. 6, 1935 ATTORNEY.

Patented Jan. 4, 1938 nirso STATES PATENT OFFECE METHOD OF MAKING A COILED METALLIC STRAND Appiication September 6, 1935, Serial No. 39,473

12 Claims.

In the manufacture of flexible and resilient metallic bunches for use in scouring, cleaning, polishing, and for other purposes, it has been found that if a metallic strand is passed while under tension over a curling edge there is imparted to the metallic strand an inherent tendency to form a helical coil since one longitudinal surface of the strand is stretched as it passes over the curling edge.

A better strand for abradant purposes is produced if the wire is flattened, and this flattening operation may be formed in any desired manner, for example, the wire may be first flattened and rolled on spools or cops and then drawn therefrom to effect the coiling operation, or the wire may be passed through flattening rolls which subject it to a flatteningoperation so that it will be deformed and provided with a desired number of cutting edges, and, in a continuous operation, it may be passed from the flattening rolls to a curling edge so that, during the feed of one or more wires from the spools or cops, the wire is subjected successively to a forming operation and while under tension and while being fed to a coiling operation. The strand thus formed has been formed into a flexible and resilient metallic bunch as disclosed in the Sedgley Reissue Patent No. 18,576 of August 23, 1932, or as disclosed in the Gottschalk and Grater Patent No. 1,886,671 of November 8, 1932.

It has also been proposed in the Gottschalk Patent No. 1,862,263 of June '7, 1932, to form the strand with spaced coiled portions connected by substantially straight stretches of wire in order to increase the abradant action of the flexible and resilient metallic bunch into which the strand is formed.

In our present invention, we have devised a novel strand and a novel method of making'it, so that, when the strand is formed into a flexible and resilient metallic bunch, the abradant surfaces will be materially increased.

With the above and other novel features in view, as will hereinafter more clearly appear, our invention comprehends a novel method of making a coiled metallic strand.

It further comprehends a novel metallic strand which is formed by subjecting the strand to a coiling operation while under tension to impart to it an inherent tendency to form a helical coil and also subjecting the strand to a deforming op eration which will materially increase the abradant surfaces at the exposed edges of the strand, so that the strand will be rippled, crimped, corrugated, or knurled.

In carrying out this invention, the strand is subjected to the cycle disclosed inthe Sedgley patent, aforesaid, and simultaneously with the coiling operation or subsequently thereto, the strand, to which an inherent tendency has been imparted, is deformed to increase the abrading' surfaces. The strand which has been coiled and deformed to increase the abradant surfaces is then formed into any desired character of bunch with the coils of juxtaposed strands interlocked. This interlocking of the coils may be done by many different methods. The strand may be allowed to collect in a pile and then worked together manually or mechanically to tangle it and cause the interlocking of juxtaposed coils. The strand may be wound around a stationary or a revolving core, and the mterlockingthroughout the mass may be produced by the tension due to the winding operation which stretches the coiled strand so that the coils will interlock as soon as they come into contact with juxtaposed coils, or by working the bunch manually or mechanicallyto cause the interlocking. The strand may be formed into a skein formation and mechanically or manually worked or'compressed to cause the interlocking of juxtaposed coils throughout the mass of the bunch.

It is therefore to 'be understood that our present invention relates moreparticularly to the novel coiled metallic strand and the method of making it, and that such strand can be formed into any desired or conventional form of flexible and resilient metallic bunch.

Other novel features and advantages will hereinafter more clearly appear in the detailed description and the appended claims.

For the purpose of illustrating the mannerin which the method may be carried out in practice, we have illustrated in the drawing different methods which may be advantageously employed in carrying out the steps of the method although the order in which these steps are carried out may vary in practice.

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view illustrative of one manner in which our novel method can be followed.

Figure 2 is a diagrammatic view of another method which can be employed in carrying out our invention. 7 V

Figure 3 is an elevation of the coiling member and its carrier with the means for causing an up and down movement thereof.

Figure 4 is a rear elevation of another form of our invention wherein the carrier and coiling member has an oscillatory as well as a vertical movement.

Figure 5 is an elevation of a form of coiling member which can be employed in which the curling edge of the coiling member is broken.

Figure 6 is a perspective view of a coreless metallic strand embodying our invention which is shown in expanded condition and under tension to more clearly illustrate the character of.

the strand.

Figure 7 is a plan view, on an enlarged scale, of another embodiment of our invention wherein the abradant surface has been increased while the strand is under tension.

Figure 8 is a plan view, on an enlarged scale, of another embodiment of our invention showing another manner of increasing the abrading surfaces, the strand being shown before the tension has been released.

Figure 9 is a side elevation, on a much enlarged scale, of the strand seen in Figure 8, after the tension has been released.

' Figure 10 is a front elevation, partly in section, of another embodiment of our invention.

Similar numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts.

Referring to the drawing:

In carrying out our invention the Wire may be first subjected to an independent deforming operation to change its shape in cross section, such as, for example, rolling the wire so that it will have four abrading edges and then wound on spools and placed on the coiling machine. It

is preferable however, from a viewpoint of economy, to pass the wire from a tension spool between rollers which flatten the wire and then through the coiling mechanism so that the metallic strand will be treated by a continuous operation instead of by separate and independent operation.

Referring now to Figure 1 of the drawing, we have illustrated in this figure one manner in which the invention can be carried out in prac- Y tice. l designates a spool on which a wire 2 is wound, the spool being tensioned by means of a spring pressed roller 3 carried by the bracket 4 on which the spool is mounted. The wire 2 passes through a guide 5 and between flattening rollers 6, the upper roller being mounted in spring actuated bearings which are adjustable, and the top flattening roller can be removed in case the wire has previously been flattened. The flattened wire passes around a rod 1 and over a curling member 8 and between feeding rollers 9 and I 6. The flattened rollersB and the feeding rollers 9 and ID are constructed and operated in a similar manner to that shown in the Sedgley Reissue Patent #18576 but the coiled strand H which is formed as soon as the tension on the strand is released is of a different character than that produced by the construction shown in the Sedgley patent aforesaid due to the fact that the curling member 8 is provided with a serrated portion l2 as shown in Figure 5. The strand in this figure is very much enlarged for the sake of clearness of illustration.

It has heretofore been the practice to pass the metallic strand which is to be coiled over a straight curling edge but we have found that if the surface contacted by the strand is irregular, for example, serrated or provided with hills and valleys that at the same time the coilingopera: tion is effected the opposite edge portions of the strand are rippled, crimped or corrugated so that the abrading surface is materially increased without affecting the general contour of the coils of the strand, in other words, the strand is in the form of a helical coil having an in herent tendency to curl when released from tension. While the strand is passing from the spool I over the curling edges to the feeding rolls it is under tension as is apparent and if the flattening rolls are employed it is under ten sion between the flattening rolls and the feeding rolls so that the strand is coiled While under tension. The passing of the metal strand over the curling edge works one side of the metal so that the opposite side or surface is stretched. The abradant edges at opposite sides of the strand are deflected from the normal plane of the strand to increase the area of abrading surfaces. The strand H from this point can be treated in any desired manner, it may be allowed to pile up as shown in the Sedgley patent aforesaid and formed into a bunch, or it may be wound under tension around a revolving or stationary core l3, and during such operation a reciprocatory guide M for the strand may be em-- ployed to produce a cross wind of the strand on the core and as the strand is slightly stretched, due to the winding operation, the coils of juxtaposed windings will interlock d'ue to the tension of the wind. The strand ll may be placed around a stationary core as in the Gottschalk and Grater Patent #1,886,671 of November 8, 1932 and a flexible metallic bunch be formed from the strand in accordance with the teachings of such patent, it being understood that such bunch may have any desired formation. The strand may be cut and then interlocked, the abradant removed from the core and worked together manually or mechanically to produce a bunch of abradant in which the juxtaposed coils interlock substantially throughout the mass of the bunch and produce an abradant of any de sired contour which can be readily grasped by the hand of the user or which can be secured in any desired manner to a grasping handle.

Abrading strands embodying our invention can be advantageously manufactured by the method disclosed in Figure 2 in which we have disclosed the same manner of supporting the spool and tensioning the spool and thereby the wire, the same flattening rolls and the same feeding rolls, it being understood that the upper rolls 6 may be omitted and, of course, in the case of both embodiments seen in Figures 1 and 2 if the wire has been previously deformed, for example, rolled to flatten it, the wire 2 will pass directly from the spool I to the coiling mechanism and the flattening roll 6 will be eliminated. In this case the wire 2 passes over a coiling member l 5 equivalent to that disclosed in the Sedgley reissue patent aforesaid, but between the coiling member [5 and the feeding rolls 9 and l!) are interposed the lower knurled roll 16 and the upper knurled roll H. These knurled rolls may be free to revolve or one or both of them may be driven. It will thus be seen that in the method disclosed in Figure 2 the wire subsequently to the coiling operation and while still under tension will be knurled to increase the area of the abrading surfaces and as soon as it is released by the feed rolls it will assume the form of a helical coil l8 which, for example, may be a strand as shown in Figure 6, or a strand as shown at i9 in Figure '7. In Figure 6 in order to more clearly show the character of the strand, this strand has not been shown in the form of a helical coil but in the condition it would assume when partially stretched out so that corrugated or V shaped portions 29 are provided which materially increase the abrading action of the strand.

In Figure 7 the strand is shown as it appears under-tension and before being released, havingthe raised knurled portions 2 I'. a

In Figure 8 we have shown the strand l l as stretched under tension so that at the abrading edges the deflected portions 23 are provided which materially increase the area of the abrading surfaces of the strand.

The strand shown in Figures 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9, are very much enlarged in order to more clearly show the character of the deformation'of the coiled strand.

In Figure 9 we have shown, on a much enlarged scale, a coiled strand similar to that seen in Figure 8 except that the tension has been released and the coils instead of being close to gether are spaced from each other due to the fact that the strand is stretched.

If the curling edge is movably mounted so that it can vibrate either up and down or backwards and forwards relatively to the line or" feed of the strand, better deformation of the strand can be produced. We have illustrated in Figure 3 one manner of accomplishing this result in which a curling member 24 is vertically adjusted in a carrier 25 by means of a fastening device 26. The carrier 25 is vertically slidable in slides 2? in the form of a bracket. A cam member 28 mounted on a cam shaft 29 connected directly or indirectly to the machine drive is driven at a desired speed and cooperates with the curved surface 30 so that a vertically reciprocatory movement is caused, the tension of the strand on the curling edge will cause the carrier to be retained in operative engagement with its cam or, if desired, additional resilient meansmay be employed for such purpose.

In the form shownin Figure 4, the carrier 25 instead of having the guide bracket 21 is provided with a slot 3! through which passes a stationary pin 32 so that the curling edge rises and falls and at the same time it is moved forwardly and rear wardly to provide an oscillatory movement.

It will, of course, be understood that the forms shown in Figures 3 and 4 are illustrative only and we do not desire to be limited to any special construction for causing a vibratory movement of the curling member.

We have found in practice that an abrading strand of the character herein disclosed has a much greater abrading action than that of a strand which has been subjected under tension to only a coiling operation to impart to it an inherent tendency to form a helical coil. We have materially increased the area of abrading surfaces for a given length of a finished abrading strand.

In the form shown in Figure 5, we have shown a pressure member 33 slidable in guides 34 and pressing against the metallic strand 2 which is shown on a much enlarged scale. A spring 35 tends to move the pressure member 33 against the band so that it will cooperate in the proper manner with the curling edge of the member 8. Of course, the spring can be dispensed with and the pressure member 33 made of such mass that its weight will produce the required action.

In Figure 10, we have shown another embodiment of our invention wherein we employ two rolls 36 and 31 between which the metallic strand passes. One roll, for example, the lower roll 31, is provided with a series of knobs or lugs 38 while the other roll 36 is formed of a metallic mass 39 having a coating All of softer material thereon. The roll 36 would be substituted for the roll I! seen in Figure 2, and the roll 3'! would be substituted for the roll iii. In this embodiment of invention the rolls would preferably be driven at a. desired speed and interconnected with the driving motor for the machine in any desired manner. 7

The strand is subjected to a forming operation to provide at least two abrading edges.

It will be apparent that in the form seen in Figure 10 the marginal edges would be deformed and also intermediate portions. 7

It will now be apparent that we have devised anew and useful method of making a coiledmetallic strand which embodies the features of advantage enumerated as desirable in the'statement of the invention and the above description, and while we have, inthe present instance, shown and described preferred embodiments thereof which will give in practice satisfactory and reliable results, it is to be understood that these embodiments are susceptible of modification in various particulars without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention or sacrificing any of its advantages.

Having thus described our invention what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:--

1. The method of forming a metallic abrading strand, which consists in subjecting the strand to a forming operation to provide at least two abrading edges, subjecting a metallic strand while under tension to a coiling operation toimpart to it an inherent tendency to form a helical coil, and subjecting the strand while under tension to a deforming operation to increase the abrading surfaces of the strand.

2. The method of forming a metallic abrading strand, which consists in subjecting a metallic strand to a forming operation to change its contour in cross section, then subjecting the metallic strand while under tension to a coiling operation to impart to it an inherent tendency to form a helical coil, and'subjecting the strand while under tension to a deforming operation to increase the abrading surfaces of the strand.

3. The method of forming a metallic abrading strand, which consists in subjecting a metallic strand to a flattening operation, subjecting the flattened metallic strand while under tension to a coiling operation to impart to it an inherent tendency to form a helical coil, and subjecting the strand while under tension to' a deforming operation to increase the abrading surfaces of the strands.

4. The method of forming a metallic abrading strand, which consists in subjecting wire to a rolling operation to change its contour in cross section and form abradant edges at opposite sides of the strand, then subjecting the strand while under tension to a coiling operation to impart to it an inherent tendency to form a helical coil, and subjecting the strand while under tension to a deforming operation to increase the abrading surfaces of the strand.

5. The method of forming a metallic abrading 6. The method of forming 'a metallic abrading strand, which consists in subjecting a metallic strand while under tension to a coiling operation to impart to it an inherent tendency to form a helical coil, and subsequently to the coiling operation subjecting the strand to a deforming operationwhich increases the abrading surfaces of the strand.

'7. The method of forming a metallic abrading strand, which consists in feeding a metallic strand while under tension, continuously working the metal at one sideof the strand while it is under tension, to stretch the opposite side of the strand thereby causing said strand when released from tension to assume the form of a helical coil, and subjecting the strand while under tensionand subsequently to the stretching operation, to a deforming operation which increases the abrading surfaces of the strand.

8. The method of forming a metallic abrading strand, which consists in rolling wire to flatten it, maintaining the flattened wire while moving under tension, causing the flattened wire while moving and under tension to pass over a curling edge which imparts to the wire an inherent tendency to curl and also at the same time crimps the wire to increase the abrading surfaces of the metallic strand thus formed.

9. The me-thod'of forming a metallic abrading strand, which consists in feeding a metallic strand while under tension over a vibrating curling edge to impart to the strand an inherent tendency to form a helical coil, and simultaneously therewith efiecting the crimping of the strand to increase the abrading surfaces.-

10. The method of forming a metallic abrading strand, which consists in passing a metallic strand while under tension over an oscillating curling edge to simultaneously impart to it an inherent tendency to form a helical coil, and to deform the strand to increase the abrading surfaces of such strand.

11. The method of forming a metallic abrading strand, which consists in passing the strand while under tension over a curling edge having hills and valleys so that the strand will be deformed to ripple the edges of the strand and thereby increase the abrading surfaces thereof.

12. The method of forming a metallic abrading strand, which consists in subjecting a metallic strand while under tension to a coiling operation to impart to it an inherent tendency to form a helical coil, and then subjecting the strand while still under tension to a knurling operation.

JOHN W. GOTTSCHALK. SYLVESTER W. GRATER. 

